Complexity in Materials far from Equilibrium Conference, May 14-16, 2008, Blacksburg, VA

非技术总结：该奖项为国际研讨会《远离平衡的材料的复杂性》提供了部分支持。会议计划符合受邀演讲者的预期专业知识标准和最高水平的智力交流的相关优点。这次会议的影响被认为是高的，因为这些主题代表了材料复杂性和非平衡性质不断发展的领域的科学前沿。研讨会的主题领域扩展了统计力学的传统领域，并投资于与生物材料和生命系统动力学相关的最新科学。会议强调科学的最新主题，提出了一系列理论和实验技术，但重点是阐明作为研究和发现基础的基本连贯主题，以及复杂性和非平衡材料的最新进展。国家科学基金会的支持将有助于加强少数群体和代表不足的群体在会议上的参与，特别关注学生和早期职业科学家。会议组织者在受邀演讲者中展示了多元化的计划，包括妇女和少数群体的大量代表。还将有广泛的国际参与，因此这扩大了国内参与者作为全球科学界的一部分的经验。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This award provides partial support for the International Symposium, Complexity in Materials far from Equilibrium. The conference plans meet the expected standards of expertise in invited speakers and the associated merit of intellectual exchange of the highest caliber. The impact of the conference is deemed to be high because the topics represent the leading edge of science in the evolving field of complexity and nonequilibrium properties of materials. The subject area of the symposium extends the traditional field of statistical mechanics and invests in the newest science associated with biological materials and dynamics of living systems. The conference emphasizes the newest topics of the science bringing forward a range of theoretical and experimental techniques, but with a focus on elucidating fundamental coherent themes that underlie research and discovery and recent advances in complexity and nonequilibrium materials. NSF support will help to enhance the participation of minority and underrepresented groups at the conference, with special attention given to students and early career scientists. The conference organizers demonstrate plans for diversity in the invited speakers, including substantial representation of women and minorities. There will also be broad international participation and so this extends the experiences of domestic participants as part of the global scientific community.